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After two weeks of intense coursework, six guest lectures, 32 investment thesis presentations, and a mind-boggling amount of coffee, another successful VC UnlockedProgram with the Stanford Center for Professional Development is officially a wrap.

With over 200 applicants, this was our most competitive application process yet. We’ve covered the amazing diversity and background of the class in a previous post, but suffice to say that we had several contenders for The Most Interesting Woman (and Man) in the World.

Now that we’ve had some time to catch up on some sleep (and email), we’ll recap a few of the many highlights from the latest installment of our flagship educational program.

Setting the framework

“Whether they’re new to angel investing or an experienced practitioner, we want participants to come away from VC Unlocked with an insider’s perspective on Silicon Valley investing. It’s about empowering participants with better resources and insights that they can apply to their investing back home,” said Bedy Yang, managing partner at 500 and the mastermind behind VC Unlocked.

That thinking is reflected in the structure of the curriculum. The first week was grounded in academic theory and VC fundamentals. Stanford University faculty and 500 partners covered topics including building an investment thesis, VC structure and returns, attracting deal flow, opportunity assessment, and how to raise a fund.

“The beginning of the course provides a theoretical foundation for the practice of venture capital investing,” said Michael Lepech, Associate Professor at Stanford University.

Prominent VCs joined our afternoon sessions throughout the week for candid discussions. Marlon Nichols discussed his investment approach at Cross Culture Ventures and experience as a Kauffman fellow. SoftTech’s Andy McCoughlin shared 12 lessons from 12 years of investing, including “beware the quick pass.”

Renata Quintini of Lux, a member of Forbes’ Midas Brink list, talked about her path across the table from the Stanford Endowment fund to frontier investing, and how her experience as a karate champ shaped her approach to business.

Finally, Capria’s Will Poole wrapped up the first week with a prediction that “impact investing will become a strategy employed by all investors.”

Credit: Paula Barrientos

Applying Concepts

During week two, participants applied those concepts with more practical, action-based exercises and in-depth lectures.

As always, one of the highlights of the program was our visit to 500’s DemoDay in Mountain View, where participants got a front-row look at our Batch 22 accelerator companies. During an investment committee simulation with 500 partners, participants also got the chance to meet a few of those startups and drill down on their businesses.

In-class case studies on valuations and M&A, where participants split into groups and simulated both sides of an acquisition offer, were two of the most fun and interactive sessions.

This year also included a trip down Sand Hill Road to visit the Andreesen-Horowitz office and learn more about their investment approach from investment partner,Li Jin.

Rick Marini of Dragonfly Partners talked about war stories from angel investing and the importance of finding a path to Series A. Lightspeed’s Jeremy Liew spoke about consumer tech trends and rubbing elbows with Will.i.am and Gwyneth Paltrow on the set of Planet of the Apps.

The course culminated in participants’ investment thesis presentations, honed after two weeks of coursework. It was a great opportunity for participants to incorporate feedback from faculty and fellow peers and stress-test their latest thinking. 78% of the class said their investment thesis had changed over the course of the program.

Testimonials

“VC Unlocked is an insider’s guide to an asset class filled with mystery and risk. I feel more confident and informed about my decision making process after this rigorous two weeks. Thank you 500 Startups & Stanford!”

Vivek Shah, Equanimity Ventures LLP

“The most important thing in venture capital is your network. The people I met in the program – classmates, instructors, 500 team – are amazing. They’ll be professional contacts and personal friends forever, which is truly invaluable.”

Jules Miller, LunaCap

Applications for Next Year

Interested in attending the next VC Unlocked program?

Join our email list to stay updated on the latest news. We’re finalizing exact dates for next year and will let you know as soon as it’s official.

Deal Camp is our four-day program for investors who want to hone their ability to define, negotiate, and execute early-stage investments. This is the third time we’ve run Deal Camp with UC Berkeley, one of the top universities in the world, and we’re really excited about the upcoming program. Go Bears!

Participants will work with leading UC Berkeley faculty and 500 Startups partners to develop strategies to structure deals in order to maximize investment returns. At the end of the week, participants will walk away with a Certificate from UC Berkeley Law, an expanded global network, the confidence and practical know-how to make better investments…and some #500Strong swag!

The program is scheduled to take place from Monday, October 23rd to Thursday, October 26th.

A reminder that space is limited so sign up today to secure your spot.

Program

Our instructors use a project-based learning approach which takes participants outside the classroom to take part in a negotiation simulation with real companies fresh from a pitch at 500 Startups Preview Day.

We’ve recruited amazing lecturers from the 500 staff, including Christine Tsai, Bedy Yang, and Amit Bhatti, as well as Adam Sterling, Robert Bartlett, and Steven Davidoff Solomon of UC Berkeley. We also have a great lineup of top VCs who will join the class for special sessions.

For attorneys interested in attending the program, up to 16 hours MCLE credit is being offered by Berkeley Law. The grant of MCLE credit is within the purview of the states, and they will provide a certificate of attendance and other materials to use in seeking continuing education credits. Berkeley Law certifies that this activity has been approved for 16 hours MCLE credit by the State Bar of California.

Testimonials

Deal Camp is one of our most popular courses, with NPS scores as high as 100. Participants come from angel investing, VC, legal, and government backgrounds. Here’s what a few past participants had to say:

“Whether you’re considering starting a fund or have already done so, VC Unlocked is a tremendous help. From fine-tuning an investment thesis to validating cap tables and negotiating term sheets, there really is something for everyone. The team put together a powerhouse lineup of speakers including the 500 executives themselves, some of the other most prominent VC firms in the valley, and great faculty representation from UC Berkeley. I’d recommend VC Unlocked to anyone remotely serious about venture capital.”

– Ben Brasher, Blacktop VC

“The VC Unlocked was essential for me as a tech lawyer. I gained insider tips on the dynamics of the top VC and industry leaders in Silicon Valley. The program provides a comprehensive overview of the venture capital investment cycle, talks on the latest practices and trends in the startup world, and workshops on structuring legal documents such as term sheets and convertible notes.”

– Tatiana Nehme, Nehme and Associates

Details & Logistics

The intensive four-day program of lectures and workshops takes place on the UC Berkeley Campus. Participants will also be invited to attend the 500 Startups Preview Day in San Francisco.

The program fee is $9,200 and covers tuition, all course materials, most meals, and admission and transport to DemoDay. Travel and accommodations are not included. There is a discounted rate available for VC Unlocked and UC Berkeley alumni.

We accept qualified candidates on a rolling basis and space is limited, so we encourage you to apply early.

Who Should Apply

Angel investors, VCs, fund managers and attorneys looking to improve their ability to define, negotiate, and execute early stage investments.

We’ve got a packed schedule for the next two weeks. Lecture topics run the gamut, from “Understanding Cap Tables and Ownership” to “Attracting Deal Flow,” as well as practical and action-based exercises, including founder interviews, opportunity assessments, and more.

It’s an updated visual design that showcases more information about the program, attendees, and instructors. We think it will be a great resource for prospective students and past participants alike and we’re excited to share it today. Let us know what you think!

Tune in over the next few weeks where we’ll feature guest posts from current participants as well as a fun recap that summarizes some of the key takeaways from the program’s lectures and events.

We’re excited to announce that applications are now open for our newest course, “Silicon Valley Secrets for Investing in Asia.” We’ve teamed up with INSEAD, a leading global business school, to offer investors a one-week deep dive on how to apply Silicon Valley investing expertise to Asia-based startups.

After the huge success of our VC Unlocked programs in the Bay Area, this marks the first time we’re taking one of our programs outside the U.S. The course will be held at INSEAD’s Asia campus in Singapore from November 6 – 10, 2017.

For AIPAC investors, that means the same unrivaled access to our Silicon Valley network, investing know-how, and extensive Asia knowledge, minus the 12-hour flight and jetlag.

Sound good? Apply todayto be part of the inaugural class in November 2017.

Course Overview

During the course, participants will work directly with INSEAD faculty and 500 Startups partners to explore startup investing trends across different markets in Asia. The program will explore topics relevant for venture capital, such as honing and evaluating investment theses, structuring early stage tech investments, and raising your next fund.

As part of the course, participants will also meet with top VCs from China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. Admission also includes exclusive access to a special DemoDay, where participants will have the chance to evaluate real startups from the 500 Startups portfolio.

Other key benefits include:

Connecting with other Asia-focused startup investors as well as INSEAD alumni

Getting fundraising tips and tools for structuring a fund from top VCs in the region

Improving your ability to identify and evaluate top startups for your portfolio

Building your deal flow

Earning a Certificate of Completion from INSEAD

VC Unlocked 2016

500 Startups in Asia

Here at 500 Startups, we pride ourselves on helping build viable startup ecosystems around the world. Since our inception in 2010, we’ve invested in over 1,800 companies and 3,000 founders in more than 60 countries, including Southeast Asian companies like Grab and Viki, which was acquired by Rakuten in 2012.

Geeks on a Plane, East Asia, Tokyo 2016

With $36B invested in startups and tech deals last year, Asia has emerged as a new hub of VC activity. Our decision to launch the first VC Unlocked program outside of Silicon Valley in Singapore is yet another example of our commitment to the Asian market.

About INSEAD

With three campuses (France, Singapore, Abu Dhabi), 145 faculty members from 40 countries, and 1,400 students in their PhD and degree programs, INSEAD is one of the world’s top graduate business schools.

They recently earned the top place in the Financial Times’ “Global MBA Ranking 2017”for the second year running.

INSEAD Asia Campus

Details & Logistics

We accept qualified candidates on a rolling basis. Space is limited so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible before the deadline of October 18, 2017.

The program fee of $9,800 USD covers tuition, course materials, most meals, admission to DemoDay, and transport to any site visits. Accommodations are not included but can be arranged for an additional fee.

If you have any questions about the program or would like to set up a call, feel free to reach out to Newton Davis at newton [at] 500startups.com.